In my previous blog, I wrote about the latest IBM mainframe flash storage called the DS8000, Gen 10. Its counterpart product for tape is the IBM TS7000, which is the focus of this blog.

The TS7000 is a mainframe centric Virtual Tape Library (VTL). The newest TS7000, called the TS7780, was announced and available in 4Q of 2024. It is built upon the same “Sea Scape” principles as the DS8000. In fact, with the covers on, you can’t tell the two boxes apart. IBM is using common parts throughout to simplify manufacturing and keep costs in line, as well as using POWER 9+ servers under the covers throughout. In fact, the TS7780 even has an IBM Flash System controller under its covers. Best of all: you don’t need to know, and you don’t need to care, because it’s all virtualized! What you know is that you have a virtual tape library in a rack with hundreds of virtual tape drives, petabytes of capacity, and gigabytes of throughput. And all 100% compatible with your installed TS7000’s.

For those who remember, the first iteration of IBM mainframe virtual tape ran at a whopping 8 MB/second, and customers bought them up because they dramatically cut down weekend batch windows. With performance not yet announced, the new box is expected to deliver up to the 10 GB/second range. That’s the Sea Scape design benefit showing up again.  

At one time, IBM owned the mainframe tape market. With tape library automation, STK wrestled that title away from IBM for over a decade. But with the virtualization of mainframe tape, the TS7000 family has vaulted IBM back into prominence in that market. For high availability mainframe customers, market data suggests that IBM has greater than 80% market share. That leaves less than 20% for everyone else to divvy up. IBM again clearly has the mainframe tape crown, even though today, it is virtual. On top of a rock-solid code base, created over the past several generations of hardware, the TS7000 offers some unique functionality. For example:

1. CoD design – offering on-the-fly increases in capacity and throughout as desired
2. 256 bit encryption for both data at rest and on-the-fly
3. Support for 32 GB FICON channel connectivity
4. Multiple compression options
5. Support for an up to 8-way mini cloud called a GRID. This allows transparent remote replication, under policy control, for up to eight TS7000 boxes. All eight boxes can see different or the same portions of your tape workload, or all of it. All self-managing without application change. It is a true mini tape cloud.
6. With policy management for all of its functions, the TS7780 delivers true virtual tape “set it and forget it” design. It’s not just low touch, it’s no touch.
7. IBM Expert Care support for proactive IBM monitoring and code upgrades.

If you are a TS7000 customer today, this box is just more of what you already love. What it adds is a new hardware base for future functions still on the drawing board. If you are a mainframe customer without a TS7000 today, please give us a call. Your mainframe doesn’t know what it’s been missing. We can fix that. Happy New Year!